BMP2 induces chondrogenic differentiation, osteogenic differentiation and endochondral ossification in stem cells

• Published in: Cell and tissue research Vol. 366; no. 1; pp. 101 - 111
• Main Authors: Zhou, Nian, Li, Qi, Lin, Xin, Hu, Ning, Liao, Jun-Yi, Lin, Liang-Bo, Zhao, Chen, Hu, Zhen-Ming, Liang, Xi, Xu, Wei, Chen, Hong, Huang, Wei
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Berlin/Heidelberg Springer Berlin Heidelberg 01.10.2016; Springer; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Adenoviridae - metabolism; Animals; Biomarkers - metabolism; Biomedical and Life Sciences; Biomedicine; Bone Development; Bone growth; Bone morphogenetic protein 2; Bone Morphogenetic Protein 2 - metabolism; Bone morphogenetic proteins; Cartilage; Cbfa-1 protein; Cell culture; Cell Differentiation; Chondrocytes; Chondrocytes - pathology; Chondrogenesis; Collagen - metabolism; Endochondral bone; Extremities - embryology; Fetus - metabolism; Fetuses; Green Fluorescent Proteins - metabolism; HEK293 Cells; Human Genetics; Humans; Hypertrophy; Mesenchymal stem cells; Mice; Molecular Medicine; Morphogenesis; Ossification (ectopic); Osteogenesis; Phenotypes; Proteomics; Regeneration; Regular Article; Sox9 protein; Staining and Labeling; Stem cells; Stem Cells - cytology; Stem Cells - metabolism; Tissue engineering; Transforming growth factor-b; Transforming growth factors; Cartilage tissue engineering; Chondrogenic differentiation; Bone morphogenetic protein 2; Osteogenic differentiation; Stem cell
• ISSN: 0302-766X; 1432-0878
• DOI: 10.1007/s00441-016-2403-0

Bone morphogenetic protein 2 (BMP2), a member of the transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) super-family, is one of the main chondrogenic growth factors involved in cartilage regeneration. BMP2 is known to induce chondrogenic differentiation in various types of stem cells in vitro. However, BMP2 also induces osteogenic differentiation and endochondral ossification in mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs). Although information regarding BMP2-induced chondrogenic and osteogenic differentiation within the same system might be essential for cartilage tissue engineering, few studies concerning these issues have been conducted. In this study, BMP2 was identified as a regulator of chondrogenic differentiation, osteogenic differentiation and endochondral bone formation within the same system. BMP2 was used to regulate chondrogenic and osteogenic differentiation in stem cells within the same culture system in vitro and in vivo. Any changes in the differentiation markers were assessed. BMP2 was found to induce chondrogenesis and osteogenesis in vitro via the expression of Sox9, Runx2 and its downstream markers. According to the results of the subcutaneous stem cell implantation studies, BMP2 not only induced cartilage formation but also promoted endochondral ossification during ectopic bone/cartilage formation. In fetal limb cultures, BMP2 promoted chondrocyte hypertrophy and endochondral ossification. Our data reveal that BMP2 can spontaneously induce chondrogenic differentiation, osteogenic differentiation and endochondral bone formation within the same system. Thus, BMP2 can be used in cartilage tissue engineering to regulate cartilage formation but has to be properly regulated for cartilage tissue engineering in order to retain the cartilage phenotype.